Air trap vs tube

[batfishdog37]

I see that some people run a fairly large tube drom the top of their carboy into a tub of water. I have always used a simple air trap or water trap or whatever the exact term is for that double chamber water/vodka holding thing. Are there any real advantages to using the tube into a water tub as opposed to the traps? Does it just let more volume of CO2 out for vigourous fermentations? Eliminate the threat of suck backs?

Thanks in advance

 

[McKBrew]

The item you are referring to is a blow-off tube. Depending on the situation it is possible for a beer to ferment so heavily that it will escape a normal airlock and make a mess. This doesn't happen all the time, or for everyone but it can.

I don't use a blow-off tube very often because my experience is that I don't need it.

 

[brewmasterpa]

the blow-off tube is for heavy, fast fermentation. if you use an airlock and you have massive kraussen, you will blow your airlock off and make a huge mess.

 

[llazy_llama]

My advice is to always use a blow off tube for the first 3 days of fermentation, unless it's a beer you've already made or you just really hate the color of your walls/ceiling.